Apparel undergarment.



PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

A. H. BENJAMIN.

APPAREL UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31,1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALFRED H. BENJAMIN, OF EAST ORAN GE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF BENJAMIN AND J OHNES, OF NEIVARK, NEWV JERSEY.

APPAREL UNDERGARIVIENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED HANSON BEN- JAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Apparel Undergarments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparel undergarments, and particularly to a corset-cover or underwaist having means for connecting the same to a corset and also holding it to and around a corset, so as insure the better fit of outer garments and to prevent the riding-up tendency of such undergarments to the discomfort of the wearer.

In the device of my improvement the front is preferably made entire, the edges lapping at the back. At the front and depending centrally I employ a flap device adapted to be engaged by the fastening devices at the front of the corset, a band or tape from each edge of the cover or underwaist, the one passing around outside and the other partially around inside through an opening at the side and partially around outside, the tapes crossing at the front through aloop, where and to which they may be tied. I also prefer to employ a skirt to the cover or waist from the lower edge below the waist-line and over the hip portion, the several features each contributing to the common function of holding down the corset-cover or underwaist when a dress-skirt or other garments are applied outside and fastened in place around the waist over the corset-cover. Besides the corset-cover thus held down to place may be made to more accurately and closely fit the form, so as to not only add materially to the comfort of the wearer, but to fit the wearer and assist the setting of the dress-waist.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation representing the lower portion of my improved corset-cover or underwaist, the lower and exposed portion of the corset beneath the same, there being a dotted line representing the figure below the corset. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at about the waist-line. Fig.

3 is an elevation at the back of the flap device at the lower portion of the corset-cover, while Fig. A is a vertical section in larger size through the flap device and the fastening devices of the corset, showing the connection of the parts whereby the flap is firmly held to the corset and the corset-waist held down in position upon the corset.

The dotted line (1. represents a portion of the figure of the wearer below the corset.

7) represents the lower portion of a corset-that is, the part that would extend beyond and below the corset-cover or underwaist b being the tabs tothe corset for the hose-supporters, and L the corset-fastening devices.

0 represents the corset-cover or underwaist, which is shown as made entire at the front and with the edges 0 lapping at the back.

(I (Z are tapes, the tape (Z connected to the edge 0 of the corsetcover and extending around the outside, the tape J connected to the under edge 0 of the corset-cover and extending partly inside, then through an opening 2 in the corset-cover or underwaist on one side, and then partially on the outside, the respective ends of the tapes passing through a loop of fabric 0 in opposite directions and crossing, said loop being secured to the outer surface of the corset-cover or underwaist at the central portion and about on the waistline, the loop serving to keep the tape down in position and as a point about which the tapes can be tied.

The flap f of fabric, narrow at its lower free end and of increased width at its upper end, is connected at its upper end to the lower portion of the corset-cover or underwaist. It preferably has a reinforced edge, and upon the under side of the fiap I secure a longitudinal tape 3 at its ends to the upper and lower parts of the said flap and transverse tapes at 5, crossing the longitudinal tape 3, which transverse tapes are connected by lines of sewing to the under surface of the said flap. In this manner the longitudinal tape 3 comprises three loopsthe loop between the upper end and the tape 4, the loop between the tapes 4 and 5, and the loop between the tape 5 and the lower end. Provision is thus made for connecting the flap to the corset by passing one or more of the eyes or yoke members of the fastening devices between the tape 3 and the flap f and then connecting the stud por tion of the fastening device to the eye or yoke portion, as shown in Fig. 4.

9 represents a skirt which I prefer to employ, the same being connected to the corsetcover or underwaist at about the waist-line and extending below the same over the corset. When the under-skirt or dress-skirt is fastened in position, it will come above the skirt of the corset-cover or underwaist and by its weight will hold down the said skirt, and consequently the corset-cover or underwaist, in position to and upon the corset. The corset-cover or underwaist will also be held in position by the tapes and by the flap secured to the fastening devices of the corset. Therefore all of these features contribute to the common function of holding down the corsetcover or under-waist and at the same time preventing a riding-up tendency of the corsetcover or underwaist to the discomfort of the wearer. The fact that the corset-cover or underwaist is thus held comfortable and securely in position makes it possible in the manufacture of these garments to make them fit more accurately and closely to the form. Consequently they, as well as the corset, lend a supporting function to the figure of the wearer and conspire to the more accurate fit and even contour of the dress-Waist.

I claim as my. invention- 1. The combination in a corset-cover or underwaist with the main fabric portion, of a flap of fabric connected to the corset-cover or underwaist at the front and provided on the under side with means adapted to be engaged by the fastening device of a corset.

2. The combination in a corset-cover or underwaist with the main fabric portion, of a flap of fabric of tapering form connected to the lower edge of the corset-cover or underwaist and provided with means adapted to be engaged by the fastening devices of a corset, the said flap extending below the waist-line for holding the same down by contact with the corset.

3. The combination in a corset-cover or underwaist with the main fabric portion, of a flap of fabric of elongated triangular form connected to the lower edge of the corsetcover or underwaist at about the center, having a reinforced edge and longitudinal and transverse tapes on the under surface of said flap adapted to be engaged by and interlocked with the fastening devices of the corset in securing the corset-steels together.

4. The combination in a corset-cover or underwaist with the main fabric portion made entire at the front with edges lapping at the back, of tapes extending around to the front and adapted to be tied, a flap secured centrally to the lower edge of the corset-cover or underwaist, and means connected thereto for securing the same to the fastening devices of a corset, and a skirt extending down from the lower edge of the corset-cover below the waist-line and adapted to come underneath outer garments, said devices performing the common function of holding down the corsetcover or underwaist in position upon the corset, substantially as specified.

5. The combination in a corset-cover or underwaist with the main fabric portion made entire at the front with edges lapping at the back, of tapes secured to said edges and extending around to the front and a loop through which said tapes are passed and to which they are tied, a flap secured centrally to the lower edge of the corset-cover or underwaist and tapes secured to the under surface of said flap arranged in loops and adapted to be engaged by and interlocked with the fastening devices of the corset in securing the corset-steels together.

Signed by me this 28th day of October, 1904.

ALFRED H. BENJAMIN.

l/Vitnesses:

Gno. T. PINCKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

